I don't have enough money to go all-out and renovate a new 2-storey corner lot, so I'm thinking of a 2-phase renovation. The first before I move in, and maybe, just maybe once I retire.

The first phase renovation is pretty typical. The goal is to have a wide enough kitchen and 2nd + 3rd bedrooms, which won't be extended anymore after that.
- extend back (4 x 22) both storeys = 176 sqft
- extend side (8 X 11) single storey, but with RC slab roof so that I can build the 2nd floor later in the future = 88 sqft, but perhaps with more expensive RM/sqft since need to build in view of possible 2nd floor

The second phase renovation is pretty much whatever imaginable hahaha, since I am not gonna build it anytime soon, but rough dreamy sketching calls for
- around 1076 sqft for ground floor. This consists of 1 new master bedroom + ensuite bath, guest toilet, study / courtyard area with double volume ceiling, and a spacious patio / terrace. Note that total land is about 4000 sqft.
- around 420 sqft for 1st floor. Basically a store room + study + a long balcony. Technically since the ground floor has double volume, it won't be exactly 420 sqft of flooring.

So in this kind of multi stage renovation, I wonder about a few things e.g

1) What's the average RM/sqft for single story side extension but with RC slab roof?

1) Having that side extension (8 x 11) with RC slab roof meant for an eventual 2nd floor. What's the waterproofing gonna be like? Worried about leaks, especially if who knows - I might not be able to execute the 2nd renovation phase and would be stuck with RC slab roof. That side extension is meant for the wet kitchen btw.

3) When the 2nd floor is built on top, how would new vertical beams be extended from the RC slab?

4) Similarly, there will be a lot of side extensions in the later stage, how would horizontal beams be connected to existing ones?

5) With later side extensions, certain external walls will eventually become internal walls. What kind of treatment needs to be done? Hack away the rough outer layer and re-plaster to a smooth internal wall finish?

6) The double volume ceiling is about 120 sqft. So technically the 420 sqft for 1st floor is about 300 sqft (420 - 120) of actual flooring. Wonder if the non-existent 1st floor flooring is still counted in the costing of RM/sqft?

7) What other things should I look out for? Additional electricity load / piping / 2nd water tank etc etc.

Thanks in advance!

This post has been edited by boyan: Nov 19 2020, 09:54 AM

Is good to plan and to plan is good. From now until retirement, how many more years to go?

I'd say another 20 years God willing.

Keep the money for another cosy and modern retirement home.

20 years ... a long way ... you may not like the neighbourhood anymore. Do the current needs.

9 out of 10 will eventually downgrade when the children are out from the nest .... I am one.

Yeah I get that. This is intended to be 'the' retirement home. I'm basing it on what I see is happening with my parents and in-laws. Two main things:

- stairs are evil, hence the master bedroom ground floor intention
- you want both a hometown feel where your children will be connected to the place they grew up + within Klang Valley since your children will most likely stay around here as well when they're working. The nest may be empty, but at least neither parents nor children have to make 4-5 hours inter-state travels. Just nice, short weekly visits.

I might afford something even better down the road, but I don't think there'll be any sentimental attachment to it (for both myself and my children). Plus to repeat the process of getting to know the new neighbors etc.

Downgrade is a possibility too, and we already have a condo right smack in city center + opposite LRT for that. But the idea is to retire here still.

This post has been edited by boyan: Nov 19 2020, 01:10 PM